Hi Tule readers! I’m so happy to be here today.

1. What is your favorite Christmas recipe?

I love to bake during the holidays. Pumpkin bread and banana bread and lots of cookies! My family’s favorite holiday cookie is Anise Cookies. My mother-in-law gave me the recipe and don’t let the black licorice flavor fool you – these are super yummy and the anise is very subtle. These cookies seriously disappear almost quick than I can make them. Here’s the recipe:

You’ll need:
6 eggs
1 pound powdered sugar
3 ¾ cups cake flour
3 big drops anise oil
1 tsp baking powder
Beat the eggs until thick and lemon colored. Add sugar. Beat for 15 minutes with an electric mixer on medium speed. Next, add flour that you have sifted and re-sifted and the baking powder. Beat for another 3 minutes. Add the anise oil and mix well. Line cookie sheets with wax paper and drop spoonfuls of dough on sheet. Let the filled sheets stand in a cool place – like the kitchen counter – overnight. In the morning bake at 300 degrees for approximately 8 minutes or until cookies are creamy beige in color.

2. Do you do anything to countdown the day?

We’ve never done a countdown, but when my boys were little we made a big production of turning on Christmas music and decorating the house and the tree.

3. White Christmas or Miracle on 34th street?

White Christmas – I love the singing!

4. Christmas shopping – are you an early shopper or last minute kind of girl?

I used to be an early shopper and then something happened. LOL I’m not sure why, but in recent years I’ve become one of those last minute girls! Luckily I don’t stress too much about it. Everything always gets done. :)

5. Do you like to spend Christmas at home or a fun destination?

Both! When I was young, I was very lucky and my family often spent Christmas in Hawaii. I loved that and have such fond memories of those trips. But once I became an adult and had my own kids, home became the place to be. We did occasionally take our boys away. The Hotel del Coronado in San Diego was a special getaway one year, but there’s nothing like seeing your kids faces when they first lay eyes on what Santa brought sitting under the Christmas tree. And even though my boys are adults now, there’s still a little sparkle in their eyes on Christmas morning.

I hope your holidays are filled with love, laughter and a little magic!
xoxo
Robin

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Hi everyone! My name is Robin Bielman and I’m so thrilled to be here today to celebrate my first release with Tule ~ book 2 in the bachelor auction series, Falling for Her Bachelor. It’s such an honor and pleasure to be part of this spring’s bachelor foursome with Charlene Sands, Jeannie Moon and Sinclair Jayne.

Our books center on four friends from high school who return to Marietta to go on the auction block for a good cause. My hero, Nick, offers a weekend getaway that mixes adventure with luxury. One of the things he does with my heroine, Cassidy, is take her skydiving. It was so much fun writing this scene because…not too long ago I jumped out of an airplane for the first time!

Here’s how it went down: My mom (yep, she crossed this off her bucket list at the same time) and I arrived at a small airport. We filled out some paperwork, giggling the whole time because holy macaroni, we were really doing this. Then with zero time to contemplate what we’d just signed we met our awesome instructors to gear up and go over instructions before we tandem skydived!

Harness ready, and trying to remember everything my instructor told me (put my hands where?), we walked to the airplane—the very small propeller airplane. At this point I thought my heart would be pounding out of my chest, but you know what? I was fine. Happy. Excited. I couldn’t wait to be in the sky. And knowing this was a tandem jump and I’d be connected to my instructor, wiped out any nervous energy.

The four of us talked and joked on the way up to 10,000 feet. (The guys found it very amusing that I was a romance writer.) With views of the Pacific Ocean on one side and mountains on the other, I couldn’t have asked for better scenery. When the time came for my instructor to open the door and scoot us out, all I remember feeling was a sense of anticipation. Then, ready…set…go! The jump was amazing. There really aren’t enough words to adequately express the sensation of freefalling, but once the parachute opened and we were floating, I wanted to stay up there forever. The remarkable peacefulness seeped into every inch of my being and I can’t wait to jump again. (This June, I think!)

So, when writing about Cassidy’s first time skydiving, this is one instance where I pulled almost exactly from my real life. I say almost because while my instructor was very nice, I’m a married woman, so there was no getting too comfortable while we were attached. Or thinking about his strong chest at my back and enjoying the feel of his arms around me. That’s all between Nick and Cassidy. ;)

And now that I’ve traveled to the sky, I’m pretty sure I can tackle any adventure. Cassidy feels that way, too. There are a couple of reasons she bids on Nick at the bachelor auction, but one of them is her desire to step outside her comfort zone. She wants to let go and experience new adventures. With Nick there to keep her safe, she’s ready and willing. I hope you’ll check out their story to read about what else they do!

**Giveaway**

Leave me a comment answering this two-part question and you’ll be entered to win a coloring book: Color Me Swooooon – The Beefcake Activity Book for Good Color-Inners as well as Beginners. It’s filled with all the celebrity men who inspire romance writers’ bachelors!

Question: Have you ever skydived, and if not would you like to? Who would you like to tandem jump with?

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When not attached to her laptop, USA Today Bestselling Author and RITA Finalist, Robin Bielman loves to read, take hikes with her hubby, and frequent coffee shops. A California girl, the beach is her favorite place for fun, relaxation, and inspiration.

She loves to go on adventures, and has skydived, scuba dived, parasailed, gotten lost in the wilderness (and only suffered a gazillion bug bites for it) hiked to waterfalls, and swam with dolphins. In her spare time she also tries to put her treadmill to good use while watching her favorite TV shows, indulges her sweet tooth, and plays a mean game of sock tug of war with her cute, but sometimes naughty dog, Harry.

Writing is a dream come true, and she still pinches herself to be sure it’s real. She lives in Southern California with her high school sweetheart husband and loves to connect with readers. Get the scoop on Robin, her books, and sign up for her newsletter on her website at http://robinbielman.com.